Alexandra Eala’s career has boomed since she graduated from Rafael Nadal’s tennis academy in 2023.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a breakout year in 2025, which included Eala’s first-ever WTA final at the Eastbourne Open.
The Filipino picked up victories over Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys, and Jelena Ostapenko during a year in which she broke into the WTA top 50 for the first time.
After Eala practiced with Rafael Nadal to cap off a remarkable debut season, the 20-year-old star sent her mentor a message via social media.
Alexandra Eala has a message for Rafael Nadal after their practice
Nadal posted about his practice session with Eala on his Instagram, and his protégé responded quickly with two messages.
The 20-year-old wrote: “Thank you for today, Rafa,” before adding a second comment to the viral social media post.
She also wrote: “Back like you never left!” after The King of Clay returned to a tennis court one year after confirming his retirement at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.
Nadal has kept a watchful eye on his star student and even congratulated the rising star after her remarkable run to the Miami Open semi-finals.
“Congratulations Alex! What a great win for you and for [the Philippines],” he wrote on X after her landmark performances at the Masters event in March 2025.
Alexandra Eala’s career highlights in 2025
The Filipino is widely considered one of the brightest prospects in the sport and Eala was rewarded with a Newcomer of the Year nomination for her work in 2025.
The 20-year-old climbed 90 places on the WTA Tour rankings in 2025 and broke several national records for her country.
She became the first Filipino to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal, defeat a major champion at tour level, and beat three major champions in straight sets as a wildcard at a single event at the Miami Open.
Eala followed that up by winning her first Grand Slam singles match at the US Open when she beat Clara Tauson in the first round.
The star also won her first WTA 125 title at the Guadalajara Open and also excelled in Jingshan and Hong Kong on the Asian swing.
